Joe Root scored a masterful 38th Test ton to floor India on Day 3 of the Manchester Test as England are in complete control at Old Trafford. Joe Root loves batting against India as he scored his 12th Test ton against India the most by anyone against India getting past Steve Smith’s 11 against the Men in Blue. Root did not have to break a sweat on Day 3 against listless India bowling.
Joe Root came to bat at the backend of Day 2 and was just settling in barely reaching double figures. But on Day 3 he showed his class. He first weathered the early storm by India and then dominated the proceedings first creating a partnership with Ollie Pope and then captain Ben Stokes to completely put India out of the match. He did get out for 150 to a ripper from Jadeja but the damage was already done as England were on the box seats by the time Root left the crease.
Joe Root’s masterful 150 flattens India.
Joe Root was batting on 11* off 27 balls when he came out to bat on Day 3 alongside his partner Ollie Pope. The duo had to play the initial overs with caution as the Indian bowlers bowled well and were hunting for wickets. Both Bumrah and Siraj bowled well. But after 40-45 minutes, when India did not get a wicket, the bowlers lost their control and became flat and Root and Pope made merry. The duo played the ball to the merit and played out the morning session adding 107 runs in 28 overs.
It was only after Lunch, that Washington Sundar got rid of Pope for 71 and Brook for 3 in quick succession to give India something to cheer about. Joe Root had added a crucial 144-run stand off 231 balls with Ollie Pope and then had another wonderful partnership for the 5th wicket with captain Ben Stokes of 142 runs off 219 balls. Stokes and Root went beyond the Tea Break.
It was only after Stokes’ retired hurt on 66 due to cramps that Root lost a bit of concentration and was nipped out by a ripper from Jadeja on 150. But it was a masterful knock containing 14 fours and in the process, he climbed up the ladder and is only behind Sachin Tendulkar on the all-time run scorer list as in the innings he surpassed Ricky Ponting and Jacques Kallis in the tally. It was a record breaking day for Root.
Joe Root’s Staggering Performance Against India Over The Years.
Joe Root loves batting against India and stats back that up. This was his 12th Test hundred against India. His second in the series after he got a masterful ton at Lord’s in the previous Test match. Out of the 12 hundreds against India, 9 of them have come at home which is the most by any batter against an opponent at home going past Don Bradman’s 8 against England.
Joe Root has had memorable knocks against India over the years. In the 2021 series, Root scored a hundred at Lord’s and Headingly as well apart from Nottingham. He has only 3 hundreds away from home against India, but out of that was a magnificent double hundred in Chennai. Against the top Indian spinners, Root swept his way to a majestic double ton which went a long way in England achieving a rare win on Indian soil. Root has literally dominated India over the years and has given nightmares to various Indian captains not just the current one in Shubman Gill.
India have just not found a way to stop him or keep him quiet for long. Such is the aura and class of Joe Root as he always finds a way. He might have been quiet in the opening 2 Test matches in Headingly and Edgbaston but was a man possessed at Lord’s and Old Trafford now with the game on the line and the series as well.
What Lies Ahead
England are in total control of the Manchester Test thanks to Root’s 150. Ben Stokes the captain who was battling cramps came back to bat later in the day and is batting on 77* off 134 balls alongside Liam Dawson who is on 21* off 52 balls. England are 544/7 in 135 overs with an overall first innings lead of 186 runs with 3 wickets in hand and two good batters Brydon Carse and Jofra Archer to come. England will look to pile on the runs and bat one session to put India out of the game.
India will look to first skittle these last three wickets quickly and minimize the deficit and then have the arduous task of batting with scoreboard pressure and a deteriorating pitch as well. Things looking bleak for India as a miracle can save them. It will be an achievement to come out of Old Trafford with a draw from India’s point of view. An England win is definitely on the cards. Can India take the Test match to Day 5? Only time will tell.
Also Read: ENG vs IND: Ben Stokes Stunning 5 Wicket Haul Rocks India